If Cal Ripken Jr. succeeds in breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive-games record of 2,130 games on Sept. 6 at Camden Yards, the baseball world will revel in the chance to see history being made. But one corner of that world--Japan--will view the event with at least a touch of skepticism. It's not that the Japanese hold anything against the Baltimore Oriole shortstop, who is enormously popular there, or that they believe his streak is anything less than the marvel it obviously is.

If Cal Ripken Jr. succeeds in breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive-games record of 2,130 games on Sept. 6 at Camden Yards, the baseball world will revel in the chance to see history being made. But one corner of that world--Japan--will view the event with at least a touch of skepticism. It's not that the Japanese hold anything against the Baltimore Oriole shortstop, who is enormously popular there, or that they believe his streak is anything less than the marvel it obviously is.

Cal Ripken is set to tie former Japanese player Sachio Kinugasa's world record of 2,215 consecutive games played tonight in Kansas City. Kinugasa attended the Orioles' last two games in Detroit and will be on hand for ceremonies in Kansas City this weekend and Baltimore next week commemorating Ripken's accomplishment. * The Texas Rangers released infielder Craig Worthington from triple-A Oklahoma City to allow Worthington to play in Japan.

The Streak is apparently over. After 16 years and 2,632 consecutive games, Cal Ripken took himself out of the Baltimore Orioles' starting lineup Sunday night and was not expected to play--ending the most amazing iron man record in sports history. "I think the time is right," Ripken told Manager Ray Miller. The 38-year-old third baseman said he was not hurt.

Cal Ripken never got a chance to talk with Lou Gehrig. It would have nice to compare eras, to talk about what it takes to play a record 2,130 games in a row just before you're about to play the 2,131st. But Ripken has had a chance to talk with Sachio Kinugasa, a third baseman who played 2,215 games in a row in Japan from 1970-87. Then Ripken played in his 2,216th, the Baltimore Orioles' 6-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Baseball is once again a team game for Cal Ripken. Instead of thinking about a consecutive games streak, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop is eager to help his team put together a winning streak. Instead of chasing Lou Gehrig, Ripken is a part of the Orioles' quest to overtake the New York Yankees in the A.L. East.

A few days after the San Jose Clash drew a sellout of 31,683 to their home opener, Major League Soccer Chairman Alan Rothenberg appeared at a luncheon in Los Angeles to promote the Galaxy's home opener at the Rose Bowl--which would draw 69,255 on April 13. "If Southern California can't beat [in attendance] a rinky-dink town up north," Rothenberg reportedly said, "then something is wrong."

Home run production is higher than ever, so Richard Justice of the Washington Post asked around the major leagues if the ball is juiced up. Some answers: --Detroit outfielder Pat Sheridan, after hitting the Tiger Stadium light tower in batting practice: "I think the balls are made by Titleist now." --Kansas City Manager Billy Gardner, bouncing a ball on the ground: "See that? If there were a carrot near it, the ball would eat it."

Dave Kingman, making a comeback with Phoenix of the Pacific Coast League, told Kevin Simpson of the Denver Post that he's been misunderstood by the media. "People close to me know the way I am," he said. "I'm a practical joker. I'm always playing a joke. Some people can't take a joke." One of his jokes was to dump a 10-gallon bucket of ice over the head of reporter in the clubhouse. Another was to send a small box containing a rat to a woman reporter in the press box. Funny, but nobody laughed.

The Boston Celtics have been so plagued by maladies that even their broadcaster thought he had become a victim. Writes Buddy Martin of the Denver Post: "Gravel-throated Johnny Most went to see team physician Thomas Silva the other day, complaining of deafness. The longtime voice of the Celtics said that he began noticing the loss of hearing about 18 months ago. "Dr. Silva made a quick check of Most's ear and discovered a TV earplug, which he extracted.